Notification method and system

ABSTRACT

A method for automatically error notifying a user of a dairy farm, wherein milking animals, such as cows, are allowed to move freely in an area ( 1 ) intended therefore and to visit individually a milking animal station, such as e.g. a milking parlor ( 9 ) with a fully automatic milking machine ( 14 ), or a feeding station ( 33 ), said station comprising an animal identification system ( 20, 43 ), and a database of the animals, said method comprising the steps of receiving a pre-selection of a particular milking animal of the milking animals in the database; identifying each milking animal that visits the station; and notifying the user of the dairy farm of the animal in dependence on the pre-selected milking animal visiting the station. The method may be implemented by means of a computer software product loaded into a computer of an animal station or of a dairy farm system.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention generally relates to dairy farming andparticularly to a method for automatically notifying a user of a dairyfarm, and to a computer program product, a milking animal station, and adairy farm system, respectively, for performing the method.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In modern dairy farm industry there are continuous research anddevelopment activities in order to improve the efficiency of variousactivities such as machine milking, which, inter alia, involvesincreased milk yield and reduced milking time.

[0003] A major trend in this respect is an increased degree ofautomation of the various activities. For instance, machine milking maybe performed by milking robots in a completely automated manner. Such anautomatic milking system may take care of milking, feeding, milkinspection, milk sampling, animal traffic, etcetera in a large areawherein the dairy animals are walking about freely. This implies thatthe user of the system, i.e. the farmer, can leave the barn for manyhours if everything is progressing appropriately.

[0004] Some activities are nevertheless performed more or less manually.For instance, if a particular dairy animal is under a treatment,receiving pharmaceutical drugs or is to be rubbed with an ointment or asalve, this particular animal has to be found for manual inspectionsand/or treatments. In a large area farm where the dairy animals arewalking about freely it is a hard and time consuming work to find theanimal of interest. Further, when the animal is found it may bedifficult to keep the animal still during the treatment or examination.

[0005] Further, some treatments ought to be performed in connection withmilking.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,790,047 issued to Golan depicts a system formarking a cow with a visible marking indicative of a treatment to becarried out on the cow, comprising an identification tag located on thecow and bearing a unique identity code for remotely identifying the cow,and a database containing for each cow in a heard a correspondingidentity code and a treatment code relating to a treatment to be carriedout on the cow. The cow passes through a paint spray station en routebetween a milking parlor and corral, said station identifying the cowand including different colored spray guns responsive to the treatmentcode for marking on the cow a visible marking uniquely identifying thetreatment code.

[0007] Said U.S. Patent does not, however, disclose how nor where tofind a particular animal of interest. Further, the system with sprayguns seems to be impractical if just one or a few particular animals areto be treated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a method forautomatically notifying a user of a dairy farm, wherein milking animals,such as cows, are allowed to move freely in an area intended thereforeand to visit individually a milking animal station, such as e.g. astall, a milking parlor, or a feeding station, said station comprisingan animal identification system, and a database of the animals, when aparticular milking animal is located.

[0009] It is yet a further object to provide such an inventive methodthat is simple, reliable, of low cost, and easy to implement.

[0010] It is still a further object to provide such an inventive methodthat can alert the user immediately or at least at a minimum of delaysubsequent to such location.

[0011] These objects among others are, according to one aspect of theinvention, attained by a method as claimed in any of claims 1-9.

[0012] Preferably, the particular milking animal is pre-selected by theuser. Such animal may be a milking animal that is to be examined or tobe treated in some manner, such as to be rubbed with an ointment or asalve, or to be given a drug or a medicament. The milking animal mayalternatively be an animal, which is not used to a particular equipmentsuch as an automatic milking machine, and thus gets anxious and nervous.

[0013] If the animal station is a milking parlor the milking machinethereof is preferably automatically shut-off when the particular animalis identified.

[0014] The user may be notified by means of a telephone, a mobile phone,a pager or a Bluetooth compatible unit. The notification may be a voiceor text message, or alternatively an alarm signal, particularly a soundalarm.

[0015] If the method is implemented into several milking animal stationsthe notification advantageously includes an identification of the animalstation that has located the particular animal.

[0016] It is appreciated that the present invention is easilyintegratable in existing automatic dairy farm apparatus.

[0017] Further objects of the present invention are to provide an animalstation and a dairy farm system for performing the inventive method.

[0018] Consequently, there is according to a second and a third aspectof the present invention provided an animal station and a dairy farm,respectively as claimed in claims 10 and 11.

[0019] Still a further object of the present invention is to provide acomputer program product for performing the inventive method.

[0020] Thus, there is according to a fourth aspect of the presentinvention provided a computer program product as claimed in claim 12.

[0021] An advantage of the present invention is that the farmer does notneed to search for, or to await the arrival of, a particular animal, andthus he may use his time more effectively.

[0022] A further advantage of the invention is that the animals are notdisturbed or stressed in their natural behavior; e.g. their mutualranking is not violated, and thus the animals stay calmer.

[0023] Further characteristics of the invention and advantages thereofwill be evident from the following detailed description of embodimentsof the invention.

[0024] In the following detailed description the milk producing animalsare cows. However, the invention is not limited to cows, but isapplicable to any animals having the capability to produce largequantities of milk, such as sheep, goats, buffaloes, horses, etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description of embodiments of the present invention givenhereinbelow and the accompanying FIG. 1, which is given by way ofillustration only, and thus is not limitative of the present invention.

[0026]FIG. 1 displays schematically an embodiment of an animalarrangement for housing a herd of cows including an arrangement forautomatically notifying a dairy farmer according to the presentinvention.

[0027]FIG. 2 displays schematically an example of an extract of adatabase comprised in a processing device of the animal arrangement ofFIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0028] In the following description, for purposes of explanation and notlimitation, specific details are set forth, such as particulartechniques and applications in order to provide a thorough understandingof the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled inthe art that the present invention may be practiced in other embodimentsthat depart from these specific details. In other instances, detaileddescriptions of well-known methods and apparatuses are omitted so as notto obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessarydetails.

[0029]FIG. 1. discloses an animal arrangement for housing a herd ofcows. The arrangement comprises an area 1 defined by enclosure means 3in the shape of a fence, a grid or the like. Area 1 is arranged to housecows permitted to walk about freely.

[0030] In area 1, there is provided a milking station or parlor 9arranged for voluntary milking of the freely walking cows, i.e. the cowsenter the milking station 9 in order to be milked when they need to. Themilking station 9 comprises an enclosure having an inlet gate 10 and anoutlet gate 71. Outside the outlet gate 11 there may be an exit space 12to be passed by the cow leaving the milking station. The exit space 12comprises a further outlet gate 13.

[0031] The milking station 9 comprises an automatic milking machine 14connected to a milk storage tank 15 by means of milk lines 16. Milkingmachine 14 includes an automatic handling device 17 having a robot arm18 arranged to automatically apply teatcups 19 of the milking machine tothe teats of a cow present in the milking station 9.

[0032] Furthermore, the milking station 9 comprises an identificationmember 20 provided to identify a cow approaching the milking station 9.All of the gates 10, 11 and 13 are controllable by means of aschematically disclosed gate control device 31. Alternatively, gate 13is a manually controlled one-way gate.

[0033] Further, automatic handling device 17, and gate control device 31are connected to a central processing and control device 32. The centralprocessing and control device 32 is responsible for central processingand controlling of the animal arrangement, and comprises typically amicrocomputer, suitable software, and a database of the cows in the area1.

[0034] Thus a cow approaching the milking station may be given access tothe milking station after having been identified by the identificationmember 20 by opening of the inlet gate 10.

[0035] During milking, milk is drawn from the teats of the cow by meansof vacuum being applied to the teatcups 19. The milk drawn is measuredby means of one or several milk meters (not illustrated), whereafter itis collected in milk storage tank 15. Preferably, there is provided amilk meter for each teat cup for measuring the individual milk flow fromeach teat. Further, each teat cup is preferably connected individuallyby means of respective milk line 16 to milk storage tank 15.

[0036] After the milking has been completed the cow may leave themilking station 9 by opening of the outlet gates 11 and 13. The milkingstation 9 may also comprise a first feeding device 21 provided in thefront end of the milking station 9 and a second feeding device 22provided in the front end of the exit space 12.

[0037] A purpose of the first feeding device 21 is to entice the cow toenter the milking station 9 and to make her stand still during at leastthe attachment of the teatcups and a purpose of the second feedingdevice 22 is to entice the cow to leave the milking station 9 after themilking has been finished or is interrupted for any reason.

[0038] It is to be noted that the cow may be enticed to enter and leavethe milking station 9 by other enticing means than the feeding devices21, 22 disclosed. In this connection reference is made to WO 96/19917.

[0039] Furthermore, area 1 houses a stall or feeding station 33accessible to the cows, i.e. the cows enter the feeding station 33 inorder to eat and possibly drink when they need to. The feeding station33 comprises an enclosure having an inlet gate 35 and an outlet gate 39.

[0040] The feeding station 33 houses an automatic feeding device 45arranged to offer solid and liquid feed, such as concentrate, hay andwater, to the cows. Furthermore, feeding station 33 comprises anidentification member 43 provided to identify a cow approaching thefeeding station 33. The gates 35 and 39 are controllable by means of aschematically disclosed gate control device 40. This gate control device40 as well as gate control device 31 are preferably connected to thecentral processing and control device 32 located at the milking parlor9, such that they are controllable therefrom.

[0041] Thus a cow approaching the feeding station may be given access tothe feeding station after having been identified by the identificationmember 43 by opening of the inlet gate 35. The cow then enters inletgate 35 and is automatically fed by means of feed device 45. After thefeeding has been completed the cow may leave the feeding station 9 byopening of the outlet gate 39.

[0042] In FIG. 1 arrows 50 indicate schematically the flows of cowsthrough milking parlor 9 and feeding station 33, respectively.

[0043] Further, it shall be noted that the first area 1 also may includemore than one feeding supply station, separate solid and liquid supplystations as well as more than one single milking station 9.

[0044] According to the present invention a pre-selection of aparticular cow of the cows in the database is received, preferably fromthe dairy farmer. The particular cow is a cow that is to be examined ortreated manually by the farmer, or it is a cow (e.g. a heifer) not usedto a particular equipment such as an automatic milking machine.

[0045] Further, each cow that visits milking station 9 or feedingstation 33 is identified by means of respective animal identificationsystem 20, 43. Then, the user of the dairy farm, i.e. the dairy farmer,is notified of the pre-selected cow in dependence on the pre-selectedcow visiting any of the stations 9, 33.

[0046] The inventive concept is preferably implemented by means of acomputer program product loadable into a memory of the processing andcontrol device 32, the program product comprising software code portionsfor performing the inventive steps when said product is run on theprocessing and control device 32.

[0047] By such a method the dairy farmer is thus automatically notifiedwhen the pre-selected cow presents itself at milking station 9 or atfeeding station 33. The farmer may then move to the station in questionand examine, treat and/or calm down the pre-selected cow. Hence, themethod provides the farmer with a notification of where a particular cowis at a given time. The farmer does not need to search for the cowmanually, which can be hard and time consuming work if area 1 is largeand houses a large number of cows. He just makes his pre-selection andthen awaits the notifying while effectively using the time elsewhere atthe farm.

[0048] The database held in processing and control device 32 of milkingparlor 9 is, for the present purpose, provided with a further field foreach cow, indicating whether the cow is pre-selected or not. FIG. 2displays schematically an example of an extract of such a database. Thedatabase comprises here three fields for each cow. One field stores acow identification number for identification of the respective cow; inthe example of FIG. 2 cows 1-10 are listed. A second field specifieswhether the cow is pre-selected or not; in the illustrated example cowsNos. 2 and 7 are pre-selected. Finally, the third field, which isoptional, includes an action to be performed on the respectivepre-selected cow; in the illustrated example cow No. 2 is to be rubbedwith an ointment, whereas cow No. 7 is to be examined.

[0049] It shall be appreciated that the processing and control device 32at the milking station is provided with an indicator unit andinput/output means, such that the farmer can communicate with the deviceand can particularly input and change the records of the fields in thedatabase. When the farmer want to find a cow he activates thepre-selection field for that cow and awaits the notifying of that cow.Subsequent to a notification of a particular pre-selected cow thepre-selection field for that cow is deactivated or, alternatively, itremains activated during a period of time or until the farmerdeactivates it manually.

[0050] As mentioned, the cow that is the pre-selected is a cow to betreated, examined and/or calmed down. A pre-selection may thus beperformed of a cow, which is to be rubbed with an ointment or a salve,of a cow which is to be given a drug or a medicament, or of an anxiouscow.

[0051] The present invention is not limited to milking or feedingstations, but any location provided with an animal identification systemand has access to the database may be capable of notifying the user.

[0052] In the case, however, of a notification from an automatic milkingstation, the automatic milking machine thereof is preferably halted orstopped, i.e. turned to a manual condition, while awaiting the user.Optionally, the user may be able to control the milking machineremotely, in particular return it to an automatic state (the farmer maybe busy elsewhere and does not want to have the milking turned off).

[0053] Further, the present invention may comprise notification only atcertain times, e.g. in daytime, and notifications may be of differentlevels.

[0054] The pre-selection of cows may be performed automatically, i.e. betriggered by a certain event such as in case of illness.

[0055] In the case of a plurality of notifying stations, the notifyingincludes preferably an identification of the animal station that isvisited by the pre-selected cow.

[0056] The user may be notified via a telephone, a mobile phone, a pageror a Bluetooth compatible unit. The notification may be a voice or textmessage. Alternatively, the user is notified via an alarm signal,particularly a sound alarm.

[0057] In these instances the processing and control device 32 isprovided with, or alternatively connected, to a suitable transmitter oran alarm generator (not shown in FIG. 1).

[0058] It will be obvious that the invention may be varied in aplurality of ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departurefrom the scope of the invention. All such modifications as would beobvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within thescope of the appended claims.

1. A method for automatically notifying a user of a dairy farm, whereinmilking animals, such as cows, are allowed to move freely in an area (1)intended therefore and to visit individually an animal station (9, 39)located in said area, said station comprising an animal identificationsystem (20, 43), and a database of the animals, characterized by thesteps of: receiving a pre-selection of a of the milking animals in thedatabase; identifying each milking animal that visits the station; andnotifying the user of the dairy farm of the pre-selected animal when thepre-selected milking animal visits the station to provide the user witha notification of where said particular milking animal is at a giventime.
 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pre-selection isreceived from the user of the dairy farm.
 3. The method as claimed inclaim 1 or 2, wherein the pre-selected milking animal is an animal,which is to be examined, to be treated, to be rubbed with an ointment ora salve, and/or to be given a drug or a medicament.
 4. The method asclaimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the pre-selected milking animal is ananimal, which is anxious or nervous, or which is not used to the animalstation.
 5. The method as claimed in any of claims 1-4, wherein theanimal station is a stall, a feeding station (33), or a milking parlor(9) provided with an automatic milking machine (14).
 6. The method asclaimed in claim 5 when the animal station is a milking parlor (9)provided with an automatic milking machine (14), further comprising thestep of halting the automatic milking machine (14) in dependence on thepre-selected milking animal visiting a milking parlor (9).
 7. The methodas claimed in any of claims 1-6, wherein the step of notifying includesan identification of the animal station (9, 33) that is visited.
 8. Themethod as claimed in any of claims 1-7, wherein the user is notified viaa telephone, a mobile phone, a pager or a Bluetooth compatible unit, viaa voice or text message, or via an alarm signal, particularly a soundalarm.
 9. The method as claimed in any of claims 1-8, wherein the dairyfarm comprises at least a further animal station (33, 9), which may bevisited individually by the freely moving milking animals, each of saidmilking animal stations (9, 39) comprising an animal identificationsystem (20, 43) and sharing a common database of the animals, andwherein the step of identifying also comprises identifying each milkinganimal that visits the further station (33, 9); and the step ofnotifying also comprises notifying the user of the dairy farm of thepre-selected animal in dependence on the pre-selected milking animalvisiting the further (33, 9) station.
 10. An animal station (9, 39),which milking animals, such as cows, can visit individually, while beingallowed to move freely in an area (1) intended therefore, said stationcomprising an animal identification system (20, 43), and a database ofthe animals, characterized in that said animal station (9, 39) isadapted to perform the method as claimed in any of claims 1-9.
 11. Adairy farm comprising at least a first animal station (9), which milkinganimals, such as cows, can visit individually, while being allowed tomove freely in an area (1) intended therefore, said station (9, 39)comprising an animal identification system (20, 43), and a database ofthe animals, characterized in that said dairy farm is adapted to performthe method as claimed in any of claims 1-9.
 12. A computer programproduct loadable into the internal memory of a computer, comprisingsoftware code portions for performing the steps of any of claims 1-9when said product is run on said computer.